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Home Front: Politix
Trump To Nominate Extreme Militant John Bolton As State Department's No. 2
2016-12-11
[Huff Poo] WASHINGTON ― President-elect Donald Trump will nominate John Bolton to be the nation’s No. 2 diplomat, handling day-to-day operations at the State Department, according to NBC’s Andrea Mitchell and confirmed to HuffPost by a source close to the transition.
Extreme, baby!
Bolton, who had been on Trump’s short list for secretary of state at one point, is among the most hawkish members of the Republican foreign policy community, a bellicose enemy of Russia and Iran.

He is a former acting U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, but served less than two years, as Democrats banded together to block his long-term appointment. His time at the U.N. was marked by a rapid uptick in anti-American sentiment among the global diplomatic community. Bolton remains one of the most disliked foreign policy operators on the world stage.

Trump’s search for State Department leadership has been particularly dramatic. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was in the running, and then he bowed out on Friday. The GOP’s 2012 presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, was also considered. But media outlets reported Saturday that Trump had settled on Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson for the top State Department job.

Even as the second in command at State, Bolton is an aggressive selection from Trump, shattering the president-elect’s pledge to work peacefully with other countries. Bolton, who has called for the bombing of Iran, held high-level roles in three different Republican administrations between 1998 and 2006. He is now a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank whose vice president has described Trump as "an idiot."
Posted by:Besoeker

#29  Get the F out of the way Rand Paul.

I wanted Bolton to BE the State Department Lead.
Posted by: newc   2016-12-11 23:23  

#28  ...or fire on a federal military installation. Didn't turn out well for some domestics or Japanese.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2016-12-11 19:07  

#27  "They're going to drive themselves to nervous breakdowns before the man is even sworn into office."

We can but hope, #22 tw. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara   2016-12-11 16:41  

#26  get all the emails of the Rhinos to their mistresses and such

could get messy for Miss Lindsay
Posted by: Frank G   2016-12-11 15:42  

#25  Call the NSA and get all the emails of the Rhinos to their mistresses and such. That'll help get rid of the opposition. (Where have I seen this before?)
Posted by: Clyde Hitler1253   2016-12-11 15:39  

#24  If AFGE went on strike, what would happen?
Posted by: Glenmore   2016-12-11 15:34  

#23  But if he run an IT company, he would be perfect?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2016-12-11 14:48  

#22  1) Trump is picking these people to flush out the opposition as whiny little bitches and make their heads explode.
2) Trump is determined to succeed in his new job and is picking people to help him do that, regardless of the traditional paybacks and patronage system.

Yes and yes. My Facebook feed is full of Democrats/Liberals/Progressives and NeverTrumper Republicans outraged that Mr. Tillerson "has been picked." When I point out that he has not been picked, that the various reports that he is the front runner are based on Trump Tower elevator watching and anonymous sources who may well be nothing more than the hotel cleaning staff, they wax indignant that Mr. Trump would even dare consider such persons for the job.

They're going to drive themselves to nervous breakdowns before the man is even sworn into office.
Posted by: trailing wife   2016-12-11 14:40  

#21  I'm thinking a lot of housecleaning... $6 Billion lost worth
Posted by: Frank G   2016-12-11 13:41  

#20  The SoS Tillerson nominee is solid, will carry out negotiations and policies, etc. Good background for the job. But where to put Bolton? I think this is the perfect place for him - operations, not policy. Bolton can clean house at State. He's just the black-and-white kind of guy you need wielding an axe in that overgrown thicket of progressivism and careerism that State has become.
Posted by: OldSpook   2016-12-11 13:23  

#19  "Extreme Militant". Wear that Huffpo badge proudly
Posted by: Frank G   2016-12-11 13:21  

#18  PBMcL, g(r)om, Barbara, and myself, it's unanimouse. End of discussion.
Posted by: Besoeker   2016-12-11 13:12  

#17  Actually, he's rather liked in Israel - by people like me.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2016-12-11 13:07  

#16  "Bolton remains one of the most disliked foreign policy operators on the world stage"

So you're saying he's perfect for the job?
Posted by: Barbara   2016-12-11 13:05  

#15  Bolton remains one of the most disliked foreign policy operators on the world stage.

Which should be something of a prerequisite for nearly any appointment. Respect, should be the goal... not LIKES !
Posted by: Besoeker   2016-12-11 12:45  

#14  Bolton remains one of the most disliked foreign policy operators on the world stage.

Because he puts US interests first, last, & always. Let them hate us as long as they fear us. And put a big poster of the "Darth Bolton" pic about every 10 feet in the State Dept. hallways.
Posted by: PBMcL   2016-12-11 12:40  

#13  My respect for Rand Paul and his panties is diminishing.

I have two theories:
1) Trump is picking these people to flush out the opposition as whiny little bitches and make their heads explode.
2) Trump is determined to succeed in his new job and is picking people to help him do that, regardless of the traditional paybacks and patronage system.

These theories are not mutually exclusive.
Posted by: SteveS   2016-12-11 12:33  

#12  And even if all they do is cause multiple liberal heart attacks, it is worth it.????
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2016-12-11 12:24  

#11  I like most of the picks. And even if all they do is cause multiple liberal heart attacks, it is worth it.
Posted by: DarthVader   2016-12-11 12:22  

#10  Trump, along with Pence, Newt, Huckabee, Giuliani, and a few others are taking the long view, the strategic view. They're setting America up for success well beyond themselves, or many of the others. I just hope and pray we can stay the course.
Posted by: Besoeker   2016-12-11 12:13  

#9  So, is George Voinovich, deceased senator from Ohio spinning in his grave, or mere weeping again?
Posted by: M. Murcek   2016-12-11 11:06  

#8  FYI - latest tweet Paul say "ANY Position", not just SoS.

Here's the recent quote: “I think John Bolton is so far out of it, and has such a naïve understanding of the world, if he were to be the assistant or the undersecretary for Tillerson, I’m an automatic ‘No’ on Bolton,” Sen. Rand Paul said of President-elect Donald Trump’s reported choice for Deputy Secretary of State.

“He should get nowhere close to the State Department, if anybody with a sane worldview is in charge,” Paul continued.

Something sure has Rand's panties in a wad when it comes to Bolton. This has got to be something personal to be this petty. Pres Elect Trump needs to call him to the Trump Tower and talk some sense into him. NY Style.

http://rare.us/story/rand-paul-im-an-automatic-no-on-john-bolton/
Posted by: Injun Bucket8891   2016-12-11 11:02  

#7  One little problem about getting Bolton confirmed: Senator Rand Paul.

"I'll do whatever it takes to stop someone like John Bolton being secretary of state," said Paul; opposing Bolton and perhaps Giuliani "would include all of the tools, would include the filibuster as well, but I hate to prematurely offer that up."

You only need 51 votes - Thank You Harry Reid for that. 52 GOP senators. If the Dems stick together, and just one RINO joins Paul and the Dems, Nomination is DOA.

See link embedded in quote for details.
Posted by: Injun Bucket8891   2016-12-11 10:57  

#6  Glinemble from your mouth to God's ears.
Posted by: AlanC   2016-12-11 08:31  

#5  Bolton is good. He doesn't have to fire the people in the State Dept. Bureaucracy, he can transfer individuals strategically to places where their careers are in a trailer next to a dumpster. Some will get the message or they are next. Break up clusters and don't rehire is another method. Lots of ways to encourage people to leave.
Then replace or don't fill the vacancy whichever is more effective. Funding is another way. Starve and strangle an individual uncooperative dept. and leave it to turn in the wind. Union personnel have to have a power base..look and identify. Apply pressure and keep it up. A lot you can do in the next 8 years. Don't be concerned about being "liked". Win and reward your Values among the ones who support them. Create an environment. Organize and create a wave.
If you don't fight you better learn to suck. Better to fight. No prisoners.
Posted by: Glinemble Omoluling5707   2016-12-11 07:58  

#4  As I look at the Trump administration nominees as a group, I become more and more convinced that he will have to at some point, neuter or destroy the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). Trump's mission and the AFGE appear to be diametrically opposed.

The AFGE is the largest federal employee union representing 650000 federal and D.C. government workers. I fear Trump's greatest challenges to success lie ahead.
Posted by: Besoeker   2016-12-11 07:05  

#3  Predictable HuffPoo screed. One thing's for sure, a gaggle of Foggy Bottom's dithering diplomats is certainly contemplating retirement.
Posted by: Heriberto Greper9897   2016-12-11 06:47  

#2  So, Bolton is "Extreme Militant" and Keith Ellison is "middle of the road" american?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2016-12-11 06:22  

#1  Tell it to the 'Stache!
Posted by: Clyde Grundy2116   2016-12-11 06:10  

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